Delhi HC refuses to stay TV release of Race 2, Dabangg 2

By HT

The Delhi high court on Friday refused to stay the television release of films Race 2 and Dabangg 2 and slammed the censor board.

A division bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice VK Jain, declining to stay the release of DVDs and TV telecast of Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg 2 and Saif Ali Khan-starrer Race 2, said it had not seen the films and without watching them, stay could not be granted.

The bench, however, told the petitioners to approach the court if they apprehend the telecast of these films on TV channels.

"We are not experts and have not seen the movies. How can we stay the films on the basis of photographs we saw here," the court told the petitioner, who had moved the court alleging that Race 2 showed nude scenes.

The counsel, appearing for petitioner, said TV telecast of these films should be stayed as these could be released on channels during Holi.

The court, meanwhile, issued notices to the ministry of information and broadcasting, Central Film Certification Board and producers of the films and sought their response by May 14, the next date of hearing.

During the hearing, the bench said the censor board had become "very generous" and was giving certificate to every films without any objection.

"Our censor board is very generous. Nowadays, censor board is not doing its duty properly.

"Nowadays, you have TV in each room. We have now developed a culture that children sleep in separate rooms and they are provided TV also... Parents don't take their children to theatre now," Justice Murugesan said explaining that content of films should not be degraded and it should be such that whole family can watch it together.

The observations came while dealing with two similar petitions.

The petition was filed against Race 2 for showing nude scenes and double-meaning dialogues and the plea against Dabangg 2 sought ban on its item song Fevicol Se, saying it was provocative.

The public interest litigation against Fevicol Se said "in the lyrics of this famous song in Hindi film, a woman is compared to a grilled chicken to be eaten with alcohol".

Petitioner Teena Sharma, filing a plea against Race 2, challenged the U/A certification given to it by the censer board.

"The film has been screened in 50 countries and it has been graded an adult movie in 40 while here, it has been granted a U/A certification," it said.

U/A certification is given to films which children above 12 years are allowed to see under parental guidance.